Lakers Bring Back Surprise Free Agent After Deandre Ayton Signing originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Los Angeles Lakers have re-signed a surprising free agent of their own, even after signing waived former Portland Trail Blazers Deandre Ayton to a two-year, $16.6 million deal.
L.A. had been in desperate need of a starting five ever since general manager Rob Pelinka flipped 10-time All-Star center Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks as part of the team’s package to obtain five-time All-NBA guard Luka Doncic.
The Lakers offloaded Davis, shooting guard Max Christie, and their unprotected 2029 first round draft pick in exchange for Doncic, plus big men Maxi Kleber (a still-useful rotation player who, now that he’s healthy, could become a trade chip) and Markieff Morris, a former 2020 L.A. champ whose NBA usefulness appears to be approaching its end.
Dallas and Los Angeles flipped 2025 second round picks to the Utah Jazz so that the Lakers could ditch 2023 first round selection Jalen Hood-Schifino.
Pelinka did try to give Doncic a rim-rolling young big. He initially traded then-rookie swingman Dalton Knecht and a 2031 first rounder to the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams — only to put a kibosh on the deal when Williams failed his team physical after the trade deadline had passed. Pelinka pivoted, bringing in a useless Alex Len off the buyout market.
Williams was later traded to the Phoenix Suns for a pair of first round picks during the draft, in a deal that was not rescinded.
Ultimately, head coach JJ Redick was compelled to keep Davis’ best backup, Jaxson Hayes, installed as his starter. Hayes was competent during the regular season, but his limitations proved glaring in the playoffs.
So it came as a bit of a surprise on Thursday night to discover whom the Lakers had signed as a potential Ayton backup.
Per Shams Charania of ESPN, L.A. has brought back Hayes on a one-year deal, despite getting so sick of him in the postseason that, by the end of the playoffs, he was a DNP – CD.
Hayes emerged as the Lakers starting center last season and shot a career high 72.2% from the field and finished top-10 in field goal percentage allowed as contesting defender on layups and dunks among players to contest 250+ shots. Now backs up new Lakers big man Deandre Ayton. https://t.co/asmF2uLqSw
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 3, 2025
In fairness, a healthy Kleber could easily slot in ahead of Hayes as Redick’s preferred Ayton backup of choice.
The Lakers could also trade the movable contracts of vets like Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt or Kleber to bring in a better option. Hayes as a third center — or even a fourth, if Redick continues to explore Rui Hachimura minutes in a small-ball approach — is relatively harmless, especially during a long regular season where Ayton frequently misses games.
In 56 games last year, Hayes averaged 6.8 points on 72.2% field goal shooting and 62.2% free throw shooting, 4.8 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.9 blocks per. As Charania notes, the 7-foot Texas product is a solid finisher around the rim.
Related: Analyzing Lakers’ Boom-or-Bust Move for Deandre Ayton
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 4, 2025, where it first appeared.